“In this strong but gentle and unassuming figure we have a type of the
finest and best of the Franciscan tradition. Of a commanding intellect and
most winning personality, he drew to himself, from the youngest student to
the most exalted of the alumni and he held them by the power of his gifts of
mind and heart.”

-Father Adalbert Callahan, from his book: Medieval Francis in
America, The Story of Eighty Years.

Joseph Butler was born on August 13, 1838
in Galbally, County Tipperary, Ireland. He remained in Ireland until
the early 1860’s when he left for New York City to pursue a career in
business. While working as a successful mercantile businessman, he felt
a calling to lead a religious life. This led him to become a Franciscan
Brother. Brother Joseph Butler taught at St. Francis College in
Brooklyn for twelve years. Throughout these years he constantly felt a
higher calling to join the priesthood. In 1876, Butler entered the
Franciscan novitiate at St. Bonaventure. By 1880, Joseph Butler
pronounced his vows and was ordained a priest. Shortly after joining
the priesthood, Butler was named Vice-President of St. Bonaventure
College. Seven years later, Fr. Joseph Butler was named president.

Fr. Butler ‘s goal during his entire
presidency was to improve the university and by all accounts, he
succeeded. Fr. Butler’s first project was the creation of “Alumni Hall”
in 1887. This building was a multi-purpose building that fulfilled
many of the needs by students and faculty. The basement was designed to
be a gymnasium. The first floor was to be a library and the second
floor was an amusement hall for recreation. After this, Father Joe
Butler began enlarging the
monastery, tripling its size by the time of
it’s completion. Father Butler saw the renovation of the church as
increasingly important. For the next few years the church was
completely renovated; large fresco paintings decorated the church
ceilings and walls and stained glass windows were placed throughout the
building. Father Butler’s next project was the construction of a new
seminary wing that was attached to the original building.
Shortly after the completion of that new wing, the main college building
was destroyed by fire in 1908. Father Butler made it his new goal to
rebuild the main building. Butler directed the construction and the
result was the building we know today as
De La
Roche Hall.

Soon after the completion of the new college building, known at the time as
Lynch Hall, Father Joseph Butler resigned as President of St. Bonaventure because of poor health. Six months later, on July 25, 1911 Father Joseph Butler passed away in his sleep. Five years later, St. Bonaventure completed
Butler Gymnasium in the late President’s honor. “Father Joe,” as he was known around campus, always stressed the importance of athletics as well as academics. The new gymnasium was a fitting tribute to one of the school’s most beloved leaders. Butler’s accomplishments and legacy as president can be seen throughout the campus. Today, a statue of
Father "Joe" Butler stands in front of Friedsam Memorial Library. The statue, Butler Gymnasium and De La Roche Hall are all reminders of what a great man and President St. Bonaventure University had in Father Joseph Butler.